The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-17
THE CITY'S TRADE CENTER.
Gossip About Some of the Well-known
Men of South Meridian Street.
The JOkers and Hustlers Among the Whole
salers and Pecularities Of Merchants Who
Have Helped to Build Up the City.

that means business on Meridian street. bet the
live merchants who engaged upon that lively
street have their hours OF leisure, relaxation
and amusement. Sometimes these breathing
spells are sandwiched in among the hours of
work. but rarely the spiriy Of the street is to
rush business during the hours of trade. Some
time ago q movement was set on foot among the
wholesalers to close their establishments at 3
o'clock on Saturday afternoon. The idea to
give every body, the employer as we'll as the en-
ployed. opportunity for amusemens and
recreation q working day instead OF on Sun
day With very few exceptions, the o'clock
closing hour has been adopted by the houses
the street, and the consequence is thss every
bodyscomes up bright and smiling Monday
morning by reason of the change. The vim and
vigor with which everybody goes to work at the
beginning of the week more than pays up for
any time that may be thought to have been lost
by the early closing Saturday.
Meridian is young as Wholesale street
Henry Schnull, called the father of the street,
resulted in concentrating the wholesale trade Of
the city on that street, from which the overflow
has since gone to neighboring streets; removed
his wholesale grocery to Meridian, to q new
block he had erected, in 1861, and has seen the
two lines OF private residences, by one, oblit
Grated to make room for business houses. In
1861 South Meridian the aristocratic
street Of the city. occupied by the wealthest
people of the place. Many of them looked upon
Mr. Schnull's innovation upon their quiet with
with great displeasure, but their property
rapidly advanced in price and they sold it at
four, Eve and even ten ten times what 1t had
cost them, they became reconciled to the change
and found homes elsewhere. There were. how
ever two three wholesale houses on the street
before Mr.. Schnull made his removal. The
oldest surviving house is that OF DagRett 81 Co..
Wholesale confectioners. established in 1854, and
which for many years previous to removing to
their present location occupied the southwest
corner Of Pearl and Meridian streets. George
G. Webster. ST., of the firm of Daggett d Co,
Ia OF the oldest merchants on the street. He
10 always bright and genial ana q great joker.
For years Mr. Webster had an able colleague in
Edward Branham the Wholesale shoeman, and
between the two the street was kept in a series
of wonderful surprises. As both these gentle
men are now somewhat elderly, they not
actively engaged in these humorous diversions
as formerly but even now, when an uncommonly
neat and clever hoax is perpstrated. the younger
men on the street are not surprised to find one
or both Of these talented elders implicated.
One Of the oldest men on the street. both in
years and in point of location, is Victor Hem
ton street previous to removing to the wholesale
center. He is suave, affable gentleman, and,
though in business for more than thirty years,
IL 10 said has never made enemy on the street
Augustus kiefer Ia a sturdy, solid citizen who
is never bsguiled from the srraif hit path of COM
nonsense by any new-fangled notions. He has
views every question of public interest. His
views always worth having, he has the
art of clearly and succinctly stating them.
d. 2. Erwin is one of the clearest and
brightest OF business men. He probably
works harder than any man the street and
holds his business closely in hand. He is close
student Of financial literature and Is quick and
analytical thinker.
r. 8 Gordon is conservative business msn
who sometimes startles the street by novel ideas.
In the matters OF improving and building up Of
city he goes quite out of the beaten track Mr..
Gordon some time ago shocked the street by de-
.claring that the thoroughfare was altogether too
room y; he wanted it cluttered up He thought
the facilities for receiving and delivering goods
were too am pie and wanted street-car line.
double track. to run through the street. The
question of a viaduct over the tracks at Meridian
street had no terror for him. Mr.. Gordon cham
pions improved public parks, race-tracks, artif-
cal lakes cable roads, natural gas and every thing
tnat goes TO make city.
Michael OConnor has beon highly successful
business man. He was formerly in business in
Madison but the superior advantages of the
capital proved to be the magnet that drew him
from the beautiful city on the Ohio. He owns
fine farm in Hamilton county, and when he
desires recreation goes out and spends few
days there
The largest and heaviest man on the street
corporeally is Simeon Carey, who IS also one of
the most prosperous merchants He has closely
attended to business all his life and been tire
less worker. Now that he has passed three
score and Is still hale and hearty. he has begun
TO take vacations and enjoy himself. He is an
expert angler, and has high reputation at Cedar
Beach. built upon several successful seasons at
David w. Coffin attends closely to business
all the year through. with the exception Of six
weeks beginning the latter part OF August,
when, accompanied by his hay fever, he takes a
trip to the Northwest, above the sneeze line.
Norman s. Byram ia one Of the best-known men
liked by everybody. Mr.. Byram has the talent
of organizing, aud it was largely due to his
efforts aud direction that the Ohio river relief.
sent out by the Indianapolis Board of Trade to
aid the flood sufferers, proved to be the we'll
managed success that 10 was.
Frederick Ostermeyer, of SEVERN, Ostermeyer
81 Co.. Is Acknowledged to have been tho best
county commissioner Marion county ever had.
While occupying fthat position the expenci-
lures OF the county were closely looked after and
several very large rats were captured in the pub
lie meal tub. Mr.. Ostermyer's hobby a
work-house, and the present institution OF that
kind is the result of his iniexible resolve to
have it.
One Of the clearest- headed men on the street
is Alex. B. Conduit man who is rather con-
servative. not likely to take up with any new
thing; but who when he gets his head set IN
what he considers the right direction, is always
found to be "infexible to i'll and obstinately
just" There is man on the street whose
views are received with greater respect
Among the younger men on the street there Is
no keenersigh GIFTED business man than William
A. Krag. who, for years. has been the active
partner in the house OF Schnull & Co. Mr. Krag
Is the typical business man. always busy. and
yet always with leisure. for he is methodical
There Ia but one more eepid talker on the
street than Mr.. Krag. and that IL Capt. w. u.
Whes. Though rapid of speech. the Captain IS
found to be cool-headod and conservative. Ii Is
not easy to get him to engage III any new or
novel enterprise, but once in he goes ahead
with an enthusiasm that is infectious, and the
project cannot fail to win.
Rufus *. Syfers and George G. Webster. jr..
have an intimacy that's Siamese-twinlike. They
are persistent jokers and hoaxsrs, and usually
com oine their forces Now and then, however,
they make each other the victims, which usual
ly gives the remainder Of the street a rest Mr.
webster, who Is one OF the Oldest and best
knowd travelling men on the street. has a gift at
oratory and an aptitude at politics MIR. Syfers
- closely attached to business. but has one spe-
cial failing. He is q fisherman. A short time
ago ne read that a man up in Canada had
landed n Twenty-Five pound salmon after four
hours struggle. and the next DAY Mr. Syfers. |
with complete anglers outfit was seen board
fwv a trmfr far